Whoda thunk it?

My little chicken... I threatened to make Mitch wear a chicken costume for Halloween when he was about Jake's age. The child was afraid of everything! (Well, everything except people.) When he was 2 1/2, he went to two different birthday parties at Pump It Up ("the jumpies" as Mitch call it), and sat on floor looking at a Nashville Parent magazine the whole time. He was afraid of "the jumpies". He was terrified of Tickle Me Elmo, and any toy that he couldn't figure out what made it "talk". When Mimi and Pa bought him his Power Wheels for his 4th Birthday, he was afraid to push the gas.

So...when we took a family trip to Six Flags in Atlanta last month, I didn't really expect a lot from Mitch. Oh...and by "family"...I mean "family". It was me, Gary, Jack, Mitch, one of Jack's friends, (Alex didn't come, and my Mom kept Jake), Gary's Mom, Gary's two sisters, and their kids. We had a great time! I showed him the roller coasters online....they even have videos of some of them. He was soooo excited and kept saying he was going to ride roller coasters. We really talked it up, but I truly thought he would change his mind when he got there and saw them. I couldn't have been more wrong! The first ride he rode was the "Log Ride". He wanted to sit up front and with Jack. What?!? My baby is riding his first ride, and he doesn't want his "Mommy"?!? What is up with this? He got scared for a just a little bit when he went down the first little hill, but after the big hill, he said, "I want to do that again!"

I didn't take my camera to Six Flags, because I was afraid I would lose it or damage it. But...the next day, we went to a kid's park called American Adventures. Jack and his friend, went to White Water (water park) which was right beside it, and Gary, me, Mitch, Lauri and Wyatt went to American Adventures. Mitch rode every ride there a million times! He faster and crazier the ride was, the better! And having his cousin, Wyatt, with him just made it that much better. They are 5 months apart in age, and they have a blast together!

Here they are having chips and Goldfish for breakfast before Six Flags. Wyatt lives in Atlanta, so we stayed with them.

Mitch and Wyatt before American Adventures

This is about the only proof I have that Jack and Jacob (Jack's friend) were even with us. The left us right after this picture was taken, and spent the day at the water park.

Their first ride...listening intently to the instructions...my little rule-follower! :)

Now he's getting too cool in the trucks....he's loving this stuff!

Daddy and Mitch on his first ever roller coaster!

After a couple of rides, they decided they didn't need us anymore...and they wanted to ride together. Gary rode behind them once for reassurance. After that, they didn't care if we rode or not.

Can you see his hands in the air? This is the way he rode EVERY ride at least once!

Wyatt and Mitch on the swings. (Sorry Mimi!)

...On the Crazy Bus

Ahhh...nice, relaxing ride on the wagon ferris wheel. She let them tell her which way to go and where to stop. They loved it!

Gary and Mitch on The Scrambler. This is the one that I thought for sure would do him in...but it was his favorite ride!

Me and Mitch on The Scrambler

Me, Wyatt, Mitch, and Lauri on the Tilt A Whirl. We got on one that spun the ENTIRE time, literally! When it was done, Lauri and I had to take a break, and the kids were begging to ride again!

We definitely got our exercise for day walking up the steps to this slide. Poor Lauri...at least Gary and I could switch off! Lauri had to go every time! Oh...and Gary cheats! He kept pushing Lauri and Wyatt back so he and Mitch could win!

Left to right: Me and Mitch, Lauri and Wyatt, random kid who is in lots of our slide pics

Gary and Mitch

Lauri and Wyatt, Me and Mitch

Gary and Mitch, Lauri and Wyatt

After we rode all of the rides for hours, we went inside and ate lunch. Then we played in the "Foam Factory". It's a 3 story playground, basically, with a ton of foam balls that you can suck up with vacuums, shoot out of guns, send up with pullies, etc. There are climbing ropes, and several slides. The kids had a great time.

Here's Mitch vacuuming up some of the balls

Mitch and Gary shooting people with foam balls. Look at the evil expression on Gary's face!

The kids couldn't reach the guns to shoot them, so here's Gary holding both Mitch and Wyatt while they push the buttons that shoot.

They are 4, so after a while, they got bored with the Foam Factory and wanted to go play games in the arcade. I love this picture of them on the motorcycles. I'm not even sure if there was money in the machine, but Mitch seriously concentrating!

And...HE'S DONE!!!!